MLT 750 words 8 hrs
ENG 350 – Advanced Composition
Essay Assignment: Interpreting Visual Text
Overview and Instructions
WD due date: ________________________ FD due date: ______________________
This assignment requires you to analyze visual texts, interpreting them and comparing them to
one another. It involves description, interpretation, analysis, and evaluation. Most student essays
average 4 to 6 pages in length. No Works Cited page is required unless you quote from outside
sources (and this is not mandatory for this assignment).
Directions:
1) Closely examine the packet of visual texts. Select one (1) set as the basis for your essay.
Note: The set based on McDonald’s ads appears here for purposes of example and cannot
be used for this essay (we will discuss this set during class to clarify how students should
proceed with their selected set of visuals). Each set consists of an original image and is
followed by four re-workings or parodies.
A) Set A – The Statue of Liberty
B) Set B – Nike ad campaign: “Just Do It”
C) Set C – Iconic Photo: The Battle of Iwa Jima
D) Set D – Iconic Photo: “American Gothic”
2) In small groups, with fellow students who have selected the same set of visuals as you,
analyze and interpret each image, collaborating to determine meaning. Take copious
notes that will prepare you for the WD. You may need to do some research to enhance
your understanding of these images.
Structure of Essay:
1) Begin with a thorough discussion of the original image. Provide orientation: historical
context, occasion, and any other relevant information. Describe the image in detail: its
visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other text. Characterize the artist’s
attitude(s) and interpret the meaning of this visual. What is the artist’s intent and
purpose? What appeals does it make to viewers? Of what is it attempting to persuade
viewers? What does the image symbolize? Why is this iconic original image so widely
known and celebrated?
2) Next, consider the first re-mediation or parody image (you may discuss the four imitative
pieces in any order that you wish – but be deliberate in the order you arrange them).
Describe the image in detail: its visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other
text. How does this image differ from the original? Characterize the artist’s attitude(s)
and interpret the meaning of this visual. What is the artist’s intent and purpose? What
appeals does it make to viewers? Of what is it attempting to persuade viewers? What
does the image symbolize? Evaluate: How effective is this re-mediation or parody?
Explain.
3) Now consider the second re-mediation or parody image. Describe the image in detail: its
visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other text. How does this image differ
from the original? Characterize the artist’s attitude(s) and interpret the meaning of this
visual. What is this artist’s intent and purpose? What appeals does it make to viewers? Of
what is it attempting to persuade viewers? What does this image symbolize? Evaluate:
How effective is this re-mediation or parody? Explain.
4) After this, transition to an examination of the third re-mediation or parody image.
Describe the image in detail: its visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other
text. How does this image differ from the original? Characterize the artist’s attitude(s)
and interpret the meaning of this visual. What is the artist’s intent and purpose? What
appeals does it make to viewers? Of what is it attempting to persuade viewers? What
does the image symbolize? Evaluate: How effective is this re-mediation or parody?
Explain.
5) Conclude by analyzing the fourth re-mediation or parody in the set. Describe the image in
detail: its visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other text. How does this image
differ from the original? Characterize the artist’s attitude(s) and interpret the meaning of
this visual. What is this artist’s intent and purpose? What appeals does it make to
viewers? Of what is it attempting to persuade viewers? What does this image symbolize?
Evaluate: How effective is this re-mediation or parody? Explain.
ENG 350 Essay 6 – Interpretation
Scoring Guide
Key
5 = Outstanding
4 = Good (effective but not quite exemplary)
3 = Average (adequate but needs improvement)
2 = Weak (deficient and needs substantial improvement)
1 = Poor (severely deficient)
0 = Missing/Omitted
• The essay is scored holistically. The numbers above are used to indicate the relative
strengths and weaknesses in each area below.
_______ 1. Format: The essay is typed using size 12 Times New Roman font; it is formatted
according to MLA requirements (see Purdue Online Writing Lab), with last name and page
number at the top right corner of each page, and an appropriate heading (name, professor’s name,
course title, and date – e.g., 9 November 2020) at the upper left corner of the first page.
_______ 2. Title: The essay has an appropriate title that helps readers know that this is an essay
of Interpretation. Examples: Interpreting Images that Parody the Statue of Liberty; McDonald’s
Ads Interpreted; Remediations of Nike’s “Just Do It” Ad Campaign; Interpreting Images
Imitating Grant Woods’ “American Gothic” Portrait; Deconstructing Images Derived from the
Iconic World War II Iwa Jima Photograph.
_______ 3. The essay begins with a thorough discussion of the original image. It provides
historical context, identifies the occasion, and orients the reader with any other relevant
information. The image is described in detail using precise adjectives characterizing the visuals
(colors, sizes, shapes, etc.) and explaining captions or other text. The writer characterizes the
artist’s attitude(s) and interprets the meaning(s) of this visual. This section of the essay addresses
the
following questions: What is the artist’s intent and purpose? What appeals does it make to
viewers? Of what is it attempting to persuade viewers? What does the image symbolize? What
values does it promote? Why is this iconic original image so widely known and celebrated?
______ 4. The essay continues with a detailed consideration of the first re-mediation or parody
image. It describes this image in detail: its visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other
text. The essay explains how this image differs from the original, characterizes the artist’s
attitude(s), and interprets the meaning of this visual. This section of the essay addresses the
following questions: What is the artist’s intent and purpose? What appeals does it make to
viewers? Of what is it attempting to persuade viewers? What does the image symbolize? What
values does it promote?
Evaluate: How effective is this
remediation or parody? Explain.
______ 5. The next section of the essay focuses on the second re-mediation or parody image. It
describes this image in detail: its visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other text. The
essay explains how this image differs from the original, characterizes the artist’s attitude(s), and
interprets the meaning of this visual. This section of the essay addresses the following questions:
What is the artist’s intent and purpose? What appeals does it make to viewers? Of what is it
attempting to persuade viewers? What does the image symbolize? What values does it promote?
Evaluate:
How effective is this remediation or parody? Explain.
______ 6. The essay now interprets the third re-mediation or parody image. It describes the
image in detail: its visuals (colors, sizes, shapes, etc.), captions, or other text. The essay explains
how this image differs from the original, characterizes the artist’s attitude(s), and interprets the
meaning of this visual. The following questions are addressed: What is the artist’s intent and
purpose? What appeals does it make to viewers? Of what is it attempting to persuade viewers?
What does the image symbolize? What values does it promote? Evaluate: How effective is this
remediation or parody? Explain.
______ 7. The final section of the essay interprets the fourth re-mediation or parody image. It
describes the image in detail: its visuals (colors, shapes, sizes, etc.), captions, or other text. The
essay explains how this image differs from the original, characterizes the artist’s attitude(s), and
interprets the meaning of this visual. The essay responds to the following questions: What is the
artist’s intent and purpose? What appeals does it make to viewers? Of what is it attempting to
persuade viewers? What does the image symbolize? What values does it promote? Evaluate:
How effective is this remediation or parody? Explain.
______ 8. Verbs: The essay uses a variety of rich verbs appropriate for interpretation of an
image: it suggests, hints, implies, indicates, infers, insinuates, intimates, signifies, symbolizes,
seems, reveals, represents, appears, etc. Whenever possible, the writer uses present-tense verbs
when interpreting visual images.
______ 9. Writing Quality: The essay is composed in formal academic English. There are no
comma splices, run-on sentences, or sentence fragments. The essay uses no contractions; it does
not use the informal “you” and uses the personal pronoun “I” sparingly (the essay does not
require the writer to reflect personally or to use personal experiences). The essay is free of errors
in grammar, usage, and mechanics. The writer has carefully proofread the essay and has
eliminated “typos” and other careless errors.
______ 10. The writer submitted a completed working draft (WD) and participated in a peer
review session, including feedback supplied to a classmate’s essay. The finalized essay (FD) is
submitted on time.
____________ Overall grade